Tie tamping or ballasting machine



Dec. 25, 1962 c, J DERLER 3,070,034-

TE TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

[MW/emf er/e 4 TTOR/VEY/ Dec. 25, 1962 c. J. DERLER 3,070,034

TIE TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet .2

v A TTURNEY Dec. 25, 1962 Filed Nov. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Dec. 25, 1962 c. J. DERLER 7 ,0

TIE TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

C/mr/a (f, Der/er ATTORNER.

Dec. 25, 1962 c. J. DERLER 3,070,034

TIE TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tjfii AT O A/EX Dec. 25, 1962 TIE TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. (flak/es J fiQr/er ATTORNEY c. J. DERLER 3,070,034

3,7,034 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,03d,li3 TEE TAMPEIG E tLLASTiNG MAtIHiNE diaries Josepi Derlcr, Burlington. Mich, assignor to Jackson Vibrators, End, Lutlington, Mich. Filed Nov. 6, 1959, Ser. No. $1,421 8 Ciaims. (*Cl. llti412) This invention relates to a tie tamping or ballasting machine. The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a tie tamping or ballasting machine including a carriage adapted to travel on the rails of a railway track and a plurality of tamping units, the support member of at least one of which is adjustable in horizontal planes relative to other tamping units.

Second, to provide a machine of this class which is of large capacity and includes tarnping units which are positionable for tamping the ballast associated with single ties or a plurality of ties arranged in side by side relation.

Third, to provide a machine of this character and having the above stated adjustable features which is of large capacity and highly efiicient in the tamping of ballast under the portions thereof especially requiring effective tamping.

Fourth, to provide a machine having an adjustable tamping unit which may be quickly adjusted by remote manual control means.

Fifth, to provide a structure embodying these several structural features in which the action of the tamping elements is entirely automatic, other than the positioning of the machine and the adjustable tamper unit or units relative to the tie or ties to be tamped and the raising and lowering of the tamper units to and from tamping position.

Sixth, to provide a machine of the class described including oppositely facing tamper units, at least one of which is mounted for spacing adjustment relative to the other.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

PEG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tamping machine embodying my invention, various parts of the carriage being conventionally shown, one of the tamper units being shown in one position by full lines and in another adjusted position by dotted lines, the track illustrating a pair of single spaced ties and a pair of ties positioned side by side with the rail ends positioned thereon and the connecting means for the ends of the rails.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view with the adjustable tamper unit in its extended position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that of FIG. 2 with the tamper units in completely lowered position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view with the crosshead in retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain structural details of the adjustable support means for the horizontally adjustable tamper unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 5-6 of PEG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a conventionalized view showing an embodiment of my invention in which the tamper units, conventionally illustrated, are arranged in opposed pairs, there being eight tamper units.

FIG. 8 is a conventionalized view of an embodiment of my invention in which there are four tamper units.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention which includes stop means for adjustably limiting the movement of the tamper unit.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

PEG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of another form of stop means.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings incorporates certain structural feat-ures of U.S. Patent No. 2,795,198, issued June 11, 1957 to Corwill Jackson, particularly the tamper units as such. The carriage is illustrated mainly in conventional form, as the structural details thereof form no part of my prment invention.

in certain railways the meeting ends of the rails are each supported by a tie, and I have illustrated in the drawings such an arrangement, in which the rails 1 are supported at their adjacent ends by ties 2 arranged in side by side relation and intermediate their ends by spaced ties 3. The rails are connected by the coupling plates 4- overlapping their meeting ends and secured thereto by bolts 5. The carriage, designated by the numeral 6, is provided with track engaging wheels 7. The driving means for the carriage is not illustrated, but brakes 8 are provided for the wheels, these being operatively connected to the control lever 9. It will be understood that the driving means are under the control of the operator so he can advance the carriage and position it for tamping the ballast around a particular tie 3, or as in the embodiment of my invention illustrated, around a pair ofties 2.

The tamping units illustrated, designated generally by the numerals 10A and 10B are substantially those of the said Jackson patent, but they are arranged and mounted for manipulation according to this invention. At its front end the carriage is provided with upright ways 11 for the crosshead slides 12, which are provided with Way-engaging rollers 13. These uprights are connected at their upper ends by the crosspiece 14 which serves as a support for other parts to be described. The uprights are pro vided with braces 15 connected thereto at 16 and to the body of the carriage at 17. The slides are provided with downwardly and forwardly projecting arms 18 to which the crosshead 19 is secured.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated includes two pairs of uprights 11 and two crosshead mounts, but as these are duplicates only one of such units is illustrated in detail. These crosheads 19 are independently and power operated, and means are provided for imparting variable downthrust thereto. This operating means comprises the rams 2h. The cylinders 21 of these rams are pivotally mounted at 22 to the carriage, and the plungers 2 3 are provided with crossarms 24 at their upper ends connected by the rods 25 to the slides 12, which are provided with laterally projecting brackets 26 to which the rods are connected. These hydraulic rams are manually controlled and the controls and power means are not illustrated other than the conduit 27, but it will be understood that the control means is such that the crossheads 19 may be independently raised and lowered and that the downthrust may be varied according to the particular requirements.

The tarnping units 16A and 10B are essentially the same except that the tamping unit 10B is mounted for adjustment laterally relative to the crosshead 19, as is illustrated by full and dotted lines in FIG. 1. This adjustable supporting means comprises the slideway 28 which is fixedly mounted on the crosshead 19 to project rearwardly or toward the carriage. The slide member 29 is slidably supported in this way and the tamper unit 10B is mounted on the outer end of this slide member. In the embodiment illustrated, the slide member is reciprocated by means of the hydraulic ram consisting of the cylinder 3% mounted on the slideway, and the plunger 31 connected to the supporting head 32 on the slide is member, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. The ram is provided with conduits 62, which are connected to the ends of the cylinder 30, and manual control means are provided, such control means however not being illustrated.

It will be noted that in FIG. 1 the tamping units are positioned for the tamping of a single tie as shown by full lines and for tamping the ties placed side by side by dotted lines and the actuated position relative to two ties is illustrated in FIG. 3.

in the embodiment illustrated, the tamping unit A is mounted directly on the crosshead, see FIG. 4, and the tamping unit 19B is mounted on the slide member 29. The tamping units in the embodiment illustrated are duplicates and they comprise the half-elliptical springs 33, those of the unit 10A being mounted, as stated, directly upon the crosshead and the springs of the other unit being mounted on the head member 32. The outer ends of the springs 33 are connected by the links 34 on which the hangers 35 are pivotally mounted at 36 for vertical swinging movement in planes parallel to the path of travel of the carriage.

Hangers 37 are pivotally mounted at 38 to laterally,

projecting arms 39 on the members 35, see FIGS. 2 and 4. The base members 40 are provided with shockabsorbing connections 41 to the hangers 37. These base members are provided with downwardly projecting arms 42 to which the tamper blade supporting crosspieces 43 are secured. The blades 44 are connected to the members 43 in laterally spaced relation.

In the embodiment illustrated, the blades are subjected to high frequency vibration by the motors 45 provided with unbalancing weights 46. The electrical connections for the motors and the controls therefor are not illustrated, but the blades of the embodiment of my inven-.

tion illustrated are subjected to high frequency vibration, desirably in the order of at least 4000 r.p.m. The blades are thus supported so that they may swing laterally relative to the rails and also toward the ties. The supporting springs provide a yielding downthrust and substantially absorb such vibrations as may be transmitted through the shock absorbing connections '41. The electrical connection, indicated generally by the numeral 47 in FIGS. 2 and 3, is such as to permit the adjustment of the outer unit. The connections to the electrical source of power are indicated at 48 in FIG. 5. The straps 49 limit the lateral outward swing of the tamper units, that is, the outward swinging movement when the tamper units are in retracted position. The straps 49' limit their inward swinging movement so that they do not strike the rail while the carriage is traveling thereon.

With this arrangement of parts, when the tamper units are lowered to work position or engagement with the ballast, the tamper blades are free to swing toward the ties and laterally thereof toward the rails.

In some embodiments of my invention two units such as are illustrated in FIG. 4 are provided, one for each rail as is conventionally illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the embodiment of FIG. 7 there are eight tamper units, two on each side of each rail, and in the embodiment of FIG. 8 there are only four tamper units, but in both embodiments one unit of each pair is adjustable relative to the crosshead. With this adjustment of one tamper unit the same may be readily adjusted for the tamping of ballast under and around single ties or double ties as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 the tamper unit adjustable support means is the same as described. In some railway tracks the ties vary in horizontal width from ties in other tracks and even in the same and to adapt the machine for such variations and to minimize the manipulating care on the part of the operator I provide a stop means for limiting the outward stroke of the adjustable tamper unit.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 the adjustable stop means comprises the chain 63 which is t connected to the slideway at 64 and disposed through an opening 65 in the keeper 66 which has the link receiving slot 67 as is illustrated.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the stop means comprises a stop rod 68 which is secured to the bracket 69 on the slideway on which the cylinder 30 is also mounted. This stop rod projects through a coacting stop member 70, the rod being threaded to re-; ceive this nut like stop element '71. Both of these embodiments relieve the cylinder 30 of some stress and as stated, they are adjustable to meet varying work conditions.

As stated, in some railroads the abutting ends of rails are supported by ties arranged in side by side relation as is illustrated. The adjustable tamper unit is controlled by the manipulation of a valve. It will be understood that this is done when the crosshead is in retracted position.

The carriage lifting rams, designated generally by the numeral 50, form no part of this invention and are there fore not described, but it will be understood that they are commonly used in connection with jacks for lifting the rails to a proper grade.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to describe various modifications and adaptations which I contemplate, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and described to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage and disposed above and transversely of a rail on which the carriage is traveling, manually controlled mean mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead toward and from the rail, a tamper unit support means comprising a slideway mounted on said crosshead transversely thereof and to project rearwardly therefrom toward said carriage and in a plane substantially parallel to plane of a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway for adjustment relative to said crosshead and away from and toward said carriage, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted position, a head member mounted on the forward end of said slide member to project laterally therefrom, a second head member mounted on said slideway to project laterally therefrom and rearwardly relative to said crosshead, tamper units mounted on said head members and each comprising a base, means for vibrating said base at high frequency supportedly mounted thereon, a tampering blade fixedly mounted on said base to project downwardly therefrom, and ffexible coupling means for said tamping unit base to said head member which suspendingly supports it when said tamping blade thereof is in retracted nonballast contacting position and through which the downthrust of said crosshead is transmitted, said coupling means permitting swinging movement of the tamper unit and the blade thereof while vibrating and with the blade in engagement with ballast both laterally and longitudinally relative to a tie being tamped and longitudinally and laterally relative to the portion of a rail above the tie being tamped.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment at the front of the carriage and disposed above and transversely of a rail on which the carriage is traveling, manually controlled means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead toward and from the rail, a tamper unit support means comprising a slideway mounted on said crosshead transversely thereof and in a plane substantially parallel to plane of a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway for adjustment relative to said crosshead and away from and toward said carriage, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted position, a head member mounted on said slide member, a second head member mounted on said slideway, tamper units mounted on said head members and each comprising a base, means for vibrating said base at high frequency supportedly mounted thereon, a tamping blade fixedly mounted on said base to project downwardly therefrom, and flexible coupling means for said tamping unit base to said head member which suspendingly supports it when said tamping blade thereof is in retracted non-ballast contacting position and through which the down thrust of said crosshead is transmitted, said coupling means permitting swinging movement of the tamper unit and the blade thereof while vibrating and with the blade in engagement with ballast both laterally and longitudinally relative to a tie being tamped and longitudinally laterally relative to the portion of a rail above the tie being tamped.

3. In a machine of the class described the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment at the front of the carriage and above a rail on which the carriage is traveling, manually controlled means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead, a tamper unit support means comprising a straight horizontally disposed slideway mounted on said crosshead in a plane substantially parallel to the path of travel of the carriage on a railway track, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway for adjustment away from and towards said carriage, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted positions thereon, a head member mounted on said slide member, a tamper unit mounted on said head member and comprising a base, means for vibrating said base at high frequency supportedly mounted thereon, a tampering blade fixedly mounted on said base to project downwardly therefrom and flexible coupling means for said tamping unit base to said head member which suspendingly supports it when said tamping blade thereof is in retracted non-ballast contacting position and through which the downthrust of said crosshead is transmitted, said coupling means permitting swinging movement of the tamper unit and the blade thereof while vibrating and with the blade in engagement with ballast both laterally and longitudinally relative to a tie being tamped and longitudinally and laterally relative to the portion of a rail above the tie being tamped.

4. A ballast tamping machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment at the front of the carriage and above and transversely of a rail on which the carriage is traveling, manually controlled means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead toward and from the rail, a tamper unit support means comprising a slideway mounted on said crosshead to project rearwardly therefrom toward said carriage and in a plane substantially parallel to a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocating mounted on said slideway for adjustment relative to said crosshead and away from and toward said carriage, manually controlled means for re ciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted positions, a head member mounted on said slide member, a second head member mounted on said slideway rearwardly relative to said crosshead, and tamper units mounted on said head members and each including a base and a tamping member mounted thereon, the base having member flexible sus pending and downthrust transmitting and vibration ab- 6 sorbing connections to said head member, and means for vibrating said base members and the tamping members at high frequency mounted thereon.

5. A ballast tamping machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment at the front of the carriage, manually controlled means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead toward and from the rail and imparting down thrust thereto, a tamper unit support means comprising a slideway mounted on said crosshead to project rearwardly therefrom toward said carriage and in a plane substantial- 1y parallel to a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway for adjustment relative to said crosshead and away from and toward said carriage, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted position, a head member mounted on said slide member, a second head member mounted on said slideway rearwardly relative to said crosshead, and tamper units mounted on said head members and each including a base and a tamping member mounted thereon, the base having member flexible suspending and downthrust transmitting and vibration absorbing connections to said head member, and means for vibrating said base members and the tamping members at high frequency mounted thereon.

6. A ballast tamping machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment at the front of the carriage, manually controlled. means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead toward and from the rail and imparting down thrust thereto, a tamper unit support means comprising a slideway mounted on said crosshead in a plane substantially parallel to a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway for adjustment relative to said crosshead and away from and toward said carriage, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted position, a head member mounted on said. slide member, a second head member mounted on said slideway rearwardly relative to said crosshead, and tamper units mounted on said head members and each including a base and a tamping member mounted thereon, the base having member flexible suspending and downthrust transmitting and vibration absorbing connections to said head member, and means for vibrating said base members and the tamping members at high frequency mounted thereon.

7. A ballast tamping machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment, manually controlled means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead, a tamper unit support means comprisingly a slideway mounted on said crosshead in a plane substantially parallel to a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway for adjustment relative to said crosshead and away from and toward said carriage, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted position, a head member mounted on said slide member, a tamper unit mounted on said head member and including a base member having flexible vibration absorbing connection to said head member and a tamping blade mounted thereon, said connections permitting the tilting of said head member and the blade thereof transversely and longitudinally of a tie with which the ballast is being tamped, and means for vibrating said base member at high frequency.

8. A ballast tamping machine comprising a carriage adapted to travel on a railway track, of a crosshead mounted on said carriage for vertical adjustment, manually controlled means mounted on said carriage for vertically adjusting said crosshead, a tamper unit support means comprising a slideway mounted on said erosshead in a plane substantially parallel to a rail on which the carriage is traveling, a slide member reciprocatingly mounted on said slideway, manually controlled means for reciprocatingly adjusting said slide member on said slideway and holding it in its adjusted position, a head member mounted on said slide member, a tamper unit mounted on said head member and including a base member having flexible vibration absorbing connection to said head member and a tamping blade mounted thereon, said connections permitting the tilting of said head member and the blade thereof transversely and longitudinally of a tie with which the ballast is being tamped, and means for vibrating said base member at high frequency.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,079,770 Joiner Nov. 25, 1913 1,585,098 Johnson May 18, 1926 2,497,682 Mertz Feb. 14, 1950 2,587,324 Hursh et al. Feb. 26, 1952 2,795,198 Jackson June 11, 1957 2,828,699 Fox Apr. 1, 1958 2,872,878 Plasser et al. Feb. 10, 1959 

